[SilasX]

Random thought: I can't find it, so how do they translate the intro to Return of the Jedi?

Moff Jerjerrod: Lord Vader. This is an unexpected pleasure. We are honored by your presence.

Darth Vader: You may dispense with the pleasantries, Commander. I am here to put you back on schedule.

Is Jerjerrod's line something they wouldn't say? Would it be confusing that someone would need to tell someone to skip the pleasantries?

[farrisbris]

Can't remember either, but your recollection is close to what mine is.

But given that Moff knows who/what Darth Vader is it is not supprising that he takes a subservient stance when talking to him. Kind of the same way i'm very careful around american cops. I would never address a norwegian cop by sir, but i don't even think twice before using sir/mam when talking to a us cop.

But in these cases its fear. It has nothing to do with pleasentries. It's the gun in the holster or the knowledge that he can forcechoke you if he wants to. ( at least thats my interpretation of that encounter in rotj ).

So no. I don't think they would say that in any normal encounter. I know i wouldn't other than in jest.

[Bartweiss]

This makes sense - I'd assume "I know my place, don't hurt me" is a sentiment that arises in basically any culture as long as somebody involved has lots of power and no accountability.

[Bartweiss]

I'm curious whether this would actually be odd for Finns?

Jerjerrod's line is phatic, but I think it's less small talk than deference or avoidance. The message is something like "I'm surprised and concerned someone with your status is involved in my work, please don't hurt me", which seems fairly universal.

[jnurmine]

In the film it's translated like they say in English, if I recall it right. But if it were from real life from after 1950-1960s (when people used the third person as a polite form, still happens but rare) the dialogue would be like this:

Darth Vader enters. Moff stops what he is doing, turns toward Vader and looks at him. Nothing is said, it is obvious to both that this is a surprise for Moff. There is a pause. Moff is waiting for Vader to indicate the purpose of this visit. It goes without saying that there is some purpose or Vader would not be here as he does not make courtesy calls; if he did, he would probably have brought a bouquet of flowers or a bottle of wine or such. If Vader would not say anything for a longer time, Moff would ask. But here Vader says: "I am here to put you back on schedule". Moff nods. Or at most says "Understood/OK". If Moff does not agree with the assessment that he is late, then he could start negotiating the issue, but as I recall from the film, he was aware of being late, so what is the point of arguing a fact.

In an older time, I think Moff would have said "Lord Vader" to acknowledge him. Otherwise the dialogue would have gone more or less as above.

That's my take of it, at least.

[SilasX]

Interesting! Thanks for proposing a full “Finnish version”!

[vlehto]

Finns know that phrase. Just like Americans know the words "your majesty" despite not having any royals.

Finns use it exactly in same way as American would say "your majesty". It would likely be a sarcastic remark coming from a Finn. So the meaning is not that far off.

[SilasX]

Yeah, but even then I assume they would want a deeper translation that made the scene more natural to Finns -- where the Moff wouldn't say something that looks like small talk, nor have Vader recognize something as being "pleasantries". Like, have the Moff immediately get to giving status reports, and then have Vader respond with disbelief and say he's behind schedule.

[StavrosK]

In Greek, we might say "skip the formality". I don't think there's a word for "pleasantries", per se. There's also no superficial small talk here, although we do have the "hey, how are you? Good, and you? Good" greeting.